Employment & income · Less straightforward does not mean impossible
Temporary maternity, paternity or parental leave does not automatically define the longer-term income position. A mortgage review may need a clear picture of current leave income, the agreed return date, hours and pay, plus childcare and other post-return household costs.
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Practical template
This is a preparation template, not a lender-prescribed form. Ask the lender or adviser whether they need their own wording, evidence or employer contact process.
To whom it may concern,
We confirm that [employee name] is employed by [employer] as [job title].
Their expected return-to-work date is [date].
On return, their contracted hours will be [hours] per [week/month].
Their salary or contractual pay on return will be [£ amount] [per year/hour], excluding variable pay unless stated separately.
Any agreed permanent change in role, hours or pay: [details / none].
Signed: [name, role, employer contact details and date].
Keep the letter consistent with the employment contract, agreed flexible-working arrangement and any application figures.
Temporary maternity, paternity or parental leave does not automatically define the longer-term income position. A mortgage review may need a clear picture of current leave income, the agreed return date, hours and pay, plus childcare and other post-return household costs.
What may matter
The useful question is what employment looks like after leave. An agreed return date, contracted hours, salary or hourly pay and any permanent change in role can help distinguish temporary leave income from the position expected after return.
Keep the temporary and longer-term figures separate. Payslips before leave, current leave payments and employer confirmation can help explain the transition where a lender asks for evidence.
Income may rise again after returning to work, but childcare and other costs may also change. Model the post-return budget rather than focusing on salary alone.
Prepare before applying
Mark an item when you have genuinely organised it. Progress is stored on this device and feeds into My Money Plan.
Use the arrangement you genuinely expect and note whether it is already agreed with the employer.
Ask whether the lender wants its own format. The template on this page gives you the core details to organise first.
Make it easy to distinguish normal pay, temporary leave pay and the expected pay after return.
Use the household position after the return to work, not only today's temporary spending pattern.
If hours or childcare are not settled, compare the budget under the realistic options instead of assuming the most favourable one.
Suggested next action
Write down the intended return date and hoursUse the arrangement you genuinely expect and note whether it is already agreed with the employer.
Worth watching
Related circumstances
Mortgage cases are often combinations rather than single labels. These are nearby situations based on shared themes and category, not lender eligibility matches.
Will a lender count my bonus, overtime or commission?
Variable income is not always ignored, but the amount a lender is prepared to use can depend on history, regularity and evidence. Build the pattern before relying on the full figure.
Review this circumstance →What financials and evidence do contractors or freelancers need for a mortgage?
Contractor and freelance income can be assessed differently depending on whether you are PAYE, umbrella, a sole trader or operating through a limited company. Build one consistent income story across the contract, financial records, tax evidence and bank activity before relying on a headline day rate.
Review this circumstance →Can I get a UK mortgage if some or all of my income is paid overseas or in a foreign currency?
Overseas or foreign-currency income can create additional lender, evidence and exchange-rate considerations. The first step is to make the source, currency, tax position and payment history clear rather than converting one month into a permanent sterling figure.
Review this circumstance →Explore another situation
If more than one issue applies, review each relevant page and keep the facts consistent across them. Started checklists will reappear at the top of the Circumstances Hub and inside My Money Plan.
MoneyHelper — rights when returning to work after maternity leave ↗ · GOV.UK — employee rights when taking parental leave ↗